Machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes



y 1949- A. R. HUBBARD 2,470,170

MACHINE FOR TURNING THE PLATFORM COVERS OF PLATFORM SHOES Filed June' 11, 1945 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 64 6 J4 62 60 70 MT l fl I "T I] W l I I I i 66 E I 1 l 5 l k l I E 50 u 1 65---1 I I I I 46 I g gi 46 I F (K Z2 f l'l ihi J fiwentor 141-2 75 7' R Elihu-a1 After 0y May 17, 1949. R HUBBARD 2,470,17Q

MACHINE FOR TURNING THE PLATFORM COVERS OF PLATFORM SHOES Filed June 1l 1945 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 17, 1949 MACHINE FOR TURNING THE PLATFORM COVERS OF PLATFORM SHOES Arthur R. Hubbard, Beverly, Mass., assignor to 7 United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application June 11, 1945, Serial No. 598,871

12 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for turning the platform covers of platform shoes. Shoes of this type, such as are disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,34 ,675, granted February 15, 1944, on an application filed in the name of John J. Walsh, are characterized by a relatively thick platform interposed between the insole and the-outsole and having its edge covered with sheet material which has first been stitched to the upper and the insole and which is later laid and secured under the edge of the platform. While the platform may consist of a midsole alone, it usually comprises a midsole and a wedge heel secured together as a unitary assembly.

Before the cover can be laid and secured to the underside of the platform, it must first be turned down from the upright position in which it was stitched. The operation of turning the cover is often performed after a last has been inserted in the shoe and after the platform has been applied. The cover often hugs the upper of the shoe tightly and resists turning, rendering the operation laborious and time-consuming.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for turning platform covers. In accordance with this object, the machine disclosed herein is provided with means for gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shoe, which means are moved to turn the platform cover while an abutment engageable with the bottom of the shoe holds the body portion of the shoe stationary against the force of the gripping means. As shown herein, the gripping means consists of a pair of jaws which are advanced while open and then closed to grip the margin of the platform cover, and then retracted to draw the platform cover'down over the peripheral edge of the platform. These jaws are operated continuously while the shoe is being fed in contact with the abutment. One of the gripper jaws is rigidly carried by a slide which is operated by a cam, and the other jaw is pivotally mounted upon the slide and operated by a second cam, the cams being arranged and driven to insure the opening and closing of the gripper jaws in timed relation to their advancing and retracting movements.

These and other novel features of the invention are illustrated in the drawingsand are hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the head of an illustrative machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the workengaging instrumentalities of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Figs. 4 and 5. I

The work-engaging instrumentalities of the machine shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprise a gage roll 10 arranged for contact with the mar ginal portion of a shoe bottom, a gage roll [2 arranged for contact with the periphery of the shoe upper adjacent to the shoe bottom, a swinging gripper jaw 14 adapted to clamp the margin of the platform cover of the shoe against a roll I6 (Fig. 3) which functions as a non-swinging gripper jaw, and a plow I 8 adapted to engage the platform coverin advance of the gripping members l4 and I6 to partially turn the cover and thereby put the cover into a position wherein it may be engaged by the gripping members. In addition to the above-mentioned instrumentalities, the machine is provided with a nozzle 20 positioned to direct a spray of cement against those portions of the platform cover and the shoe bottom which are to be adhesively united when the platform cover is laid.

The machine is shown in the drawings as operating upon a platform cover C of a shoe '8 mounted upon a last L and having at platform 1?. The position of the platform cover before turning is indicated by the reference character C and the position after turning is indicated by the reference character C".

The gripper jaw I4 is formed upon one arm of an L-shaped lever 22 which is fulcrumed upon a pin 24 mounted in a rod 26 having an end portion 21 (Fig. 3) of reduced diameter.- The lever 22 extends through a slot 28 formed in the rod 26 and bridged by the pin 24. The roll 16 is mounted for free rotation upon the smooth shank of a shoulder screw 30 threaded into the reduced end portion 21 of the rod '26. A bearing formed in a'block 32 supports the rod 26 forlongitudin-al reciprocation. Mounted in the forked opposite end of the rod 26 is a freely rotatable roll 34 which engages the periphery of a oneway cam 36 secured upon and rotatable with a shaft 38. A coil compression spring 40 surrounding the rod 26 and interposed between an end face of the block 32 and a collar 42 secured by a setscrew 44 upon the rod urges the rod to the left, as seen in Fig. 1, and normally maintains the roll 34 in engagement with the cam 35. The degree of compression of the spring 40 may be adjusted by shifting the position of the collar 42 along the rod 26. The shaft 38 is mounted in a bearing 46 and is driven through gearing 48 from any suitable source of power. A hand wheel 49 (Fig. 1) provides for the slow turning of the shaft 38 for purposes of adjustment. A shelf 50 secured upon the top of a column 52 carries the bearing 46 and also the block 32.

Also mounted for reciprocation in the block 32 is a second rod 54 parallel to the rod 26 and connected through a link 56 and pivot pins 58 to the end of the lever 22 which is opposite the jaw 14. A recess 59 in the block 32 accommodates the end of the link 56 which is connected to the rod 54. The forked opposite end of the rod 54 carries a freely rotatable roll 60 which engages the periphery of a one-way cam 62 mounted upon and rotatable with the shaft 38. .A coil compression spring 64 surrounding the rod 54 and interposed between the end face of the block 32 and a collar 68 secured upon the rod 54 by a setscrew 1U urges the rod to the left, as seen in Fig. 1, to maintain the roll yieldingly in contact with the cam 62. The degree of compression of the spring 64 may be adjusted by shifting the position of the collar 68 along the rod 54.

The plow I8 is a thin, blade-like member adapted to extend between the unturned cover C and the shoe S and curved to partially turn the cover as the shoe is fed by hand. As shown in Fig. 2, this plow is inclined both lengthwise and heightwise of the shoe. It has a hub '32 (Fig. 3) which is rotatable upon the reduced end portion 21 of the rod 26. The hub 12 is counterbored to receive the roll l6 and is cut away to permit the jaw M to clamp the platform cover against the roll. The hub 12 is retained upon the reduced end portion 21 b the roll it. Extending laterally from the hub 12 is a flange 14 which is engaged by a torsion spring 16 secured about the pin 24. The effect of the spring H is to urge the flange I4 upwardly, thereby tending to rotate the hub 12 in a direction to hold the plow l8 down yieldingly against the shoe S. Rotation of the hub 12 under the influence of the spring 16 is limited by a stop pin 18 threaded into the rod 26 and engaging the end of an arcuate groove formed in the left-hand end face of the hub 12.

The gage roll [2 is freely and idly rotatable upon a shoulder screw 80 clamped in a bracket 82 which is secured by screws 84 upon the block 32. The screw 80 passes through a slot 85 (see Fig. 6) in the bracket 82 and is threaded into a nut 81 which clamps the screw to the bracket in any desired position of heightwise adjustment. The gage roll I0 is freely and idly rotatable upon a shoulder screw 86 threaded into a bracket 88 which is secured by screws 9t] upon a side face of the block 32. Either or both of these rolls may, if desired, be driven to exert a feeding action upon the work.

The work is presented to the machine-by hand with the plow 13 between the platform cover and the body portion of the shoe, the position of the shoe being determined by the gage rolls it and 52. In the operation of the machine the cam shaft 38 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2. Such rotation of the cam 35 will cause the rod 26 to advance toward the right, as seen in Fig. 1. The corresponding rotation of the cam 62 also moves the rod 54 to the right, the relative positions of the two rods during this advancing movement being such as to hold the jaw 24 open or away from the roll Hi. When the cam 36 has turned far enough to bring the rod 26 to the limit of its advancing movement, the cam 82 permits the jaw it to close upon the margin of the platform cover under the influence of the spring 64. The cams E2 and 5-56 are so designed as to leave the roll til off the cam 62 when the jaw l4 closes. Further rotation of the cam 35 enables the spring 49 to retract the rod 26, holding the roll 34 yieldingl against the cam 36. The grippers, now closed upon the workpiece, are thus retracted under control of the cam 36 to turn the platform cover from the position C to the position C. The pull of the grippers upon the platform cover is resisted by the gage roll it which thus serves as an abutment forthe shoe bottom. Since both the grip and the retraction of the grippers are yielding and not positive, any danger of damaging the work by reason of irregularities in the wor piece will be avoided, inasmuch as the grippers will either stop in their retracting movement or slip to release the workpiece, according to the adjustments of the springs 40 and 64, when they encounter unusual resistance. When the grippers reach the left-hand limit of their movement, the periphery of the cam 62 will again come into contact with the roll 60 and swing the gripper jaw 14 to open position, thereby releasing the margin of the platform cover. The work is fed progressively by hand to enable the grippers in their next working stroke to grasp and turn a fresh portion of the platform cover. The plow l8 engages that portion of the platform cover which has not yet been grasped by the grippers. It works in unison with the grippers and exerts a turning effect somewhat beyond the reach of the grippers to position a fresh portion of the platform cover, as the shoe is fed, for engagement by the grippers. While the Work is thus being fed in contact with the gage rolls it and I2, cement from the nozzle 20 will be applied to those portions of the platform cover and the shoe bottom which are to be adhesively secured together.

In many cases the machine may be used as above described to operate around the entire periphery of a shoe. However, in some types of shoes, platform covers may be excessively tight around the heel portion of the shoe and will be hard to turn, especially if the heel of the shoe is high. In operating upon such shoes it may therefore be convenient to turn the heel portion with ordinary hand pincers or by the use of a machine such as that disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,422,737, granted June 24, 1947, on an application filed in the name of Robert H. Lawson.

The modified machine shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 retains the gage roll I 2 mounted for free rotation upon the bracket 82, as already described, and arranged for contact with the periphery of the shoe upper adjacent to the shoe bottom. The other work-engaging instrumentalities of the modified machine comprise a gripper jaw lflll 5. which cooperates with a block I02 to grip'themargin of the platform cover of the shoe, a gage roll I04 arranged for contact with the marginal portion of the shoe bottom, and a finger I06 which operates advance of the gripping members Hi and I02 to partially turnthecover and thereby put the cover into a position where it may be gripped by the gripping members. If desired, the nozzle already described may also be employed to direct a spray of cement against those portions of the platform cover and the shoe bottom which are to be adhesively united when the platform cover is laid.

The gripper jaw I 00 is formed upon one end of an- L-shaped lever I08 which is fulcrumed upon a pin I I0 mounted in a rod H 7. having an end portion N4 of reduced diameter, the rod '2 being slidably mounted for reciprocation in the block 32. The gripping member N02" is in the form of a block which is square in crossseetion and is nonrotatably clamped upon the reduced end portion I I4 by a screw II 6. The cooperating portions of the jaw I00 and block I02are formed with complemental' teeth to improve their grip upon thework, but the block I02 may, if desired"; be unclamped and rotatedthrough a half turn to present a smooth face to the jaw I00. The end of the lever I08 which is opposite the jaw I00 is connected through a link H8 to the end of a rod I20 which is parallel to the rod H2 and which alsois slidably mounted for reciprocation in the block 32. The rods H2 and I20 are provided with springs similar to the springs 40* and 64' above mentioned and are driven by a cam mechanism like that already described.

The finger I06 is adapted to engage the platform cover between the platform cover and the upper of the shoe. It is positioned close to the gripping members to operate upon that portion of the platform cover which is about tobe grasped by the gripping members. The finger I06 is formed upon the end of a bar I22 which has a U-shaped portion I24 (Fig. 4). A clamping screw I26 surrounded by a washer I28 extends downwardly between the two branches of the U- shaped portion I24 and through a slot I36 formed in a plate I32. A nut I 34 threaded upon the lower end portion of the screw I26 cooperates with the screw and washer I28 to clamp the bar I22 upon the plate I32. As shown in Fig. 4; the slot I extends transversely of the machine and the slot formed by the two branches of the U-shaped portion I24 extends from front to rear. By reason of these slots, therefore, the finger I06 may be adjusted in any desired position either longitudinally or transversely with respect to the machine and, furthermore, the finger I06 may be adjusted angularly by swinging the bar till about the axis of the screw I26. The plate i3'2 has a rearward extension I36 which is clamped by two screws I38 to a bar I40. The end portions of the bar I40 are slotted horizontally and the rear end portion of the bar is pivotally connected through a pin I42 to a lever I44 which, in turn, is fulcrumed between its ends upon" a pin I46 mounted between a pair of ears I48 extending from the block 32. The actuated end of the lever I44 is forked and it slidingly embraces a square block I50 which is pivotally mounted upon a pin I52 secured in the rod '2. A slot I54 is formed. in. the rod II2 to accommodate the end of the lever" I44 and the block I50. Parallel to the lever I44 and connected at one end to the bar I40 by a pin I56 is a link I58. The opposite end of the link I58 extends between a pair of cars I60 formed on the bl'oclr and is pivotally mounted: upon a pin I52 secured said ears. It is evident. from the foregoing description that reciprocatory movement of the rod I I2 will operate: through the lever I to reciprocate the rod I40, and therefore the finger I06, in a direction parallel tothat of the rod H2, and also that the: directions of. the reciprocatory movements of the rod I it and the linear I06 will be opposite with respect to each other.

The gage: roll I04 is frusto-oonical and is mmln-ted for free rotation upon a shoulder screw I564 mounted a bracket I66 secured,- with provision for hei'ghtwise adjustment, by a clamping screw Hi8 to the front wall of the block 32. This roll is directly beneath the gripping members- I00 and 0 2 andit therefore gages the workpiece very close to the locality at which the gripping. members operate. Itsposition, furthermore, overcomes anytendency which the work might otherwise have to pivot" about itunder the pull of the gripping members. As shown in Fig. 5 by the dotted line I10, the roll I04 is dished to accommodate-the grip er jaw I0'0i n-its opening and closing movements.

The operation of the machine in general is sinnlar to that of the machine previously described. HoWei/"er itwill be noted thatthe finger I06; unlike the-plow I8, moves in a direction opposite tothat of the jaws. While the jaws are be ing: retracted,- a portion of the platform cover is being turned, and while the jaws are being advanced, the finger 06 effects a preliminary turning' of that portion of the platform cover which is just. ahead of the jaws- The combined turning effect, therefore, of the grippers and the finger is, in efiect, substantially continuous since each begins its operations where the other leaves off.

Having described my invention, what'- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising an abutment. engageable with the bottom of a shoe, a non-swinging: gripper jaw, a guide for limiting the movements of said gripper jaw to a path which is substantially height-wise with respect to a shoe having its bottom against said abutment, [a second gripper jaw pivotally connected for swinging movement to the first-mentioned gripper jaw, two one-way cams, means for driving said cams, a cam: follower engageable with each of said cams, a driving connection from one of said cam followers to the non-swinging gripper jaw for advancing. that gripper jaw to a position for griping a partially turned platform cover on the shoe, 2; spring' for closing the swinging gripper jaw to cause it to grip y'ieldingly the platform comer against the non-swinging gripper jaw, a spring for yieldin-gly retracting, under control of its associated earn, the non-swingin jaw and thereby the pivotally connected swinging jaw while the swinging jaw is gripping the work piece, the "efieet of such retraction of the jaws being the complete turning 'of the gripped portion of the platform cover, and a connection between the other cam follower and the swinging jaw for op ing the swinging law to release the work at the end of the retracting movement.

2. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising a tool engageable with the margin of the platform cover of a plat-- form shoe and driven in a predetermined path to turn the platform cover, a gage in the form of an idly rotatable roll enga-geable with the shoe bottom for gaging the shoe heightwise in operative relation to said tool, and a gage engageable with the periphery of the shoe adjacent to the shoe bottom for gaging the shoe laterally in operative relation to said tool.

3. In a machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes, a thin, blade-like tool adapted to enter between an unturned portion of the platform cover and the body of a shoe, said tool being curved like a plow and being inclined both lengthwise and heightwise of the shoe to enable it to exert a turning effect upon the platform cover when there is a relative feeding movement between the tool and the shoe.

4. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising a pair of gripper jaws engageable with the margin of the platform cover of a platform shoe, means for advancing said gripper jaws, then closing the gripper jaws to grasp the margin of the platform cover, and then retracting the closed jaws to turn the pla-t form cover, and a tool adjacent to said gripper jaws and engageable with the platform cover to partially turn the platform cover and thereby bring the marginal portion of the platform cover into a position to be grasped by the gripper jaws.

5. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising a gripping device, operating means whereby said gripping device is caused to grasp the margin of the platform cover of a shoe and then to move in a direction to turn the cover, and means for operating on a portion of the platform cover which has not yet been turned by said gripping device to move said por tion into position to be grasped by said gripping device.

6. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising a gripping device, operating means whereby said gripping device is caused to grasp the margin of the platform cover of a shoe and then to move in a direction to turn the cover, a tool engageable with a portion of the platform cover which has not yet been turned by the gripping device, said tool being adapted to enter between the platform cover and the body of the shoe, and means for moving said tool back and forth to cause it to move said portion of the platform cover into position to be grasped by said gripping device.

.7. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising a pair of gripper jaws engageable with the margin of the platform cover of a platform shoe, means for advancing and retracting the gripper jaws, means for closing the gripper jaws on the margin of the platform cover to grip said margin and for maintaining the jaws in gripping engagement with the margin during their retraction to turn the platform cover, a tool adjacent to said gripper jaws and engageable with the platform cover, and means for reciprocating said tool in timed relation to the advance and retraction of the gripper jaws to cause the tool to partially turn the platform cover and thereby bring the marginal portion of the platform cover into a position to be grasped by the gripper jaws.

8. In a machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes, a device for gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shoe, means for advancing and retracting the gripping device, means for closing and opening the gripping device in timed relation to the advancing and retracting movements to cause the gripping device to grasp the margin of the platform cover of the shoe at the beginning of each retracting movement and to remain closed during the retraction, and a tool carried by the gripping device and movable therewith as the gripping device advances and retracts to partially turn the platform cover and thereby bring the marginal portion of the platform cover into a position to be grasped by the gripping device.

9. In a machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes, a gripper comprising a pair of jaws, means for closing one jaw against the other to grip between them the margin of the platform cover of a shoe, means for retracting the gripper while in gripping engagement to turn the platform cover, and a plow carried by one of said jaws for engaging the unturned portion of the platform cover in advance of the gripper as the shoe is fed to partially turn the platform cover and thereby to put the margin of the platform cover into a position to be engaged by said gripper.

10. In a, machine of the class described, a pair of gripping members between which a workpiece of sheet material may be clamped, and means for retracting said members while the members are in gripping engagement with a workpiece to pull the workpiece, one of said members comprising a roll arranged for free rotation to facilitate the feed of the workpiece in a direction substantially at right angles to the line of pull of the gripping members.

11. A platform cover turning machine comprising a tool operable upon reciprocation to exert a turning effect upon the platform cover of a shoe, 2, second tool operable upon reciprocation to exert a turning effect upon the platform cover, and means for reciprocating said tools repeatedly in opposite directions with respect to each other to cause them to exert a substantially continuous turning effect upon the platform cover.

12. A platform cover turning machine comprising a gripper engageable with the margin of a platform cover of a shoe, means for reciprocating said gripper, means for opening and closing the gripper in timed relation to its reciprocation, a finger engageable with the platform cover between the platform cover and the shoe, and means for reciprocating said finger in a direction opposite to the direction of reciprocation of the gripper so that the cover will be acted on alternately by the gripper and the finger whereby the turning action is substantially continuous.

ARTHUR. R. HUBBARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,014,835 McFeely Jan. 16, 1912 1,398,524 La Fleur Nov. 29, 1921 1,413,614 Pym Apr. 25, 1922 1,697,983 Lancaster Jan. 8, 1929 1,740,409 Ridderstrom Dec. 17, 1929 1,796,103 Holms et a1 Mar. 10, 1931 1,899,077 Byron et a1 Feb. 28, 1933 1,989,102 Lund Jan. 29, 1935 2,186,592 Morrill Jan. 9, 1940 2,292,558 Bell Aug. 11, 1942 

